Real Madrid: a challenging journey with a goal to remember
The team in white has had a very demanding path in the Copa, but is in the final after an exhibition at the Camp Nou.
To reach the final, a path full of thorns with a victory to last forever. Real Madrid CF aims this Saturday to lift its twentieth Copa del Rey to the skies of Seville, the fortieth time it has reached the decisive match of a tournament that has given it many joys, but which it has not won since 2014. This May 6, 2023 is the last leg of a journey that has had many difficulties, but that the white team has managed to overcome by maximizing their arsenal.
Exempt from the first rounds, Real Madrid made their debut in the round of 32 against Cacereño, from the Second Federation. Just in the beginning of the year, on a cold night, Madrid won thanks to a solitary goal, a really great goal, by Rodrigo Goes in the 69th minute. It was a hard-fought victory (0-1) in a pitch that experienced a huge party, the pure essence of the Copa soared to infinity.
In the round of 16, a high level opponent. Villarreal received Real Madrid and did so with an energetic presentation, leading at halftime with goals by Capoue and Chukwueze. However, Madrid showed their quality and used their pride, as well as good play, to come from behind and reach the quarter-finals. Vinicius, Militao and, in the closing stages, Ceballos turned the score around (2-3) when it seemed impossible after what they had seen in the first half.
The quarter-finals featured a huge derby at the Santiago Bernabéu. Atlético de Madrid came out determined and took the lead with a goal by Álvaro Morata after 19 minutes. The rojiblancos held on with a great approach, but not even the best defense would have been able to stop Rodrigo's sky-high run in the 79th minute, one of the great goals of the season. That goal took the game into extra time and Madrid finished on top with Benzema and Vinicius scoring the decisive goals (3-1).
And in the run-up to the final, a clásico, big words. Barcelona won at the Bernabéu by the minimum, a 1-0 scoreline that came with an own goal by Militao and gave the azulgranas an advantage for the second leg. But there, on April 5, Real Madrid conquered the Camp Nou with a torrent of play and goals. Vinicius, on the stroke of halftime, equalized the series before Benzema's display, who scored a hat-trick in the second half (0-4).
That victory, which will be remembered for years to come, has taken Real Madrid to La Cartuja, where they will be looking to return to a trophy that has eluded them in recent years.
